Superstitious James Says His Headband Will Reappear

By Nate Taylor

June 19, 2013

MIAMI — The first question for LeBron James before the Miami Heat’s practice Wednesday was not about Game 7 of the N.B.A. finals, his ever-developing legacy or his triple-double performance in Tuesday’s 103-100 overtime victory. It was not even about the Spurs. James was asked about his headband or, rather, the absence of it.

During the Heat’s rally in the fourth quarter, James, who has played his entire career with a headband and has used it to further his brand, lost it when Tim Duncan knocked it off his head after he dunked the ball.

James sprinted back on defense and never went looking for the white headband. He said he was too focused on trying to bring the Heat back from a 10-point deficit.

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NOW YOU SEE IT... LeBron James dribbled past the Spurs' Kawhi Leonard wearing his headband in Game 6.CreditWilfredo Lee/Associated Press

After that play, James continued his dominance over the Spurs, although fans quickly noticed how different he looked on the court. James’s ability to play well without his headband — he scored 12 of his game-high 32 points without it — became a talking point during and after the game as bloggers and fans on social media began wondering: doesn’t James have to start Game 7 without the headband?

James scored just as many points in the paint (8) without the headband as he did with it in the first 34 minutes of Game 6, according to ESPN Stats and Info. He also shot 45 percent (5 of 11) after he lost his headband.

James smiled and laughed when asked if he would play Game 7 without his headband.

He added, “If it gets knocked off, then me and him will have a discussion if he will return.”

James’s Heat teammate Chris Bosh said he only remembered James’s headband coming off once before Tuesday.

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... NOW YOU DON'T James in the second half without it.CreditWilfredo Lee/Associated Press

“It was only for a couple of possessions,” Bosh said. “He was like, ‘Hey, give me my headband back.’ I was surprised. I thought he was going to put his cape back on. But he did well without it.”

The Heat’s Shane Battier joked that maybe the Spurs had trouble recognizing James.

“They thought he was somebody else, maybe his cousin Larry,” Battier said grinning. “So he was able to use a little stealth down the stretch.”

James acknowledged that the last time he played without a headband was in a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons in his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

“I didn’t play too well,” he said. “I didn’t like it.”

James did not say if he enjoyed the experience Tuesday night, or if sweat got in his eyes. What James did understand was that his performance, which will be one of the most memorable and lasting moments of these finals, was enhanced because everyone saw his full forehead.

“I was confused,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ He was just in that moment. He just said, ‘Listen, it doesn’t matter.’ I think he said he might have came out of his jersey if he had to. I don’t think the N.B.A. would have liked it. He was about doing whatever it took. And I’m sure when we get in that moment again, he’s going to do whatever it takes again.”